Wings of Fire - The CloudBorn (Fanfiction)

Chapter 3

"Cloud?" Fog gasped, a grin spreading on his face. "The Cloud the SkyWing? The same Cloud that mastered the Fire element quicker than any normal dragon of this century?"

"Yes, that's me," Cloud snickered, looking amused at Fog's exhilaration. "The same Cloud,"

"You are a legend in the Fire Territory!" Fog exclaimed, adrenaline causing his wings to start quivering and his nose to start leaking out vapors. "At least, that's what the documents I've read say. You mastered the Fire Element in five months! Amazing! No dragon alive has ever done such a thing!"

"Oh stop," Cloud waved a talon as he rolled the cauldron back onto its base now that the tub was empty. "I mean, yes, I am amazing, but you don't have to rub it all in like that to fuel my ego,"

"How can I not?" Fog cheered. "To have mastered an element in such a short time... You must be gifted beyond imagination!"

Fog bounced forward, eager to help this legend and icon of the Fire element out. He began working on cooling the embers by breathing a plume of mist onto them.

"That's what my mother always said," Cloud mumbled, a clouded gaze in his eyes when he mentioned his mother. The SkyWing shook his head and forced a smile back onto his snout. "Here, take the embers and put them in the cauldron,"

Fog did just that, taking as much kindling as he could and putting it in the tub for what Fog guessed was later transport.

"So, what's an icon doing in a cave like this?" Fog asked, breathing more mist onto the smoldering embers to cool them down more.

"Well, it's quiet," Cloud answered. "I'd rather have this than-"

"Cloud!" came a sudden boisterous call from the cave mouth. Cloud and Fog whipped around to see a huge SandWing fly in. Sandstorm had taken off his Storm Guard captain armor and was wearing just the under-armor cloths.

"You done with that soak?" Sandstorm asked, nodding his head towards the empty cauldron. "That was quick,"

"I didn't want to overuse your favor," Cloud stated, suddenly looking uncomfortable. Sandstorm's smile vanished and was replaced with a worried and pained look.

"Cloud, I offered it so you could wash away as much stress as it would allow," Sandstorm explained, walking up and wrapping a sandy wing around the SkyWing. "You can ask for more, you know,"

"I don't want to be selfish anymore," Cloud replied, looking downtrodden. "What if I ask for too much? What if I become annoying again?"

"I'd much prefer your annoying self than... this, Cloud," Sandstorm sighed, poking Cloud with the tip of his snout. "Blizzard agrees. She misses the old you. What happened?"

Cloud went silent, his eyes staring down at the floor. At the moment, Fog became curious. He remembered hearing stories of Cloud from Blizzard before. Cloud used to complain a lot, as well as brag about his achievements like there was no tomorrow. That wasn't the Cloud he just met, though.

What happened? Fog thought. Was it something during the journey to King's Peak? Something after?

Fog remembered the glazed expression Cloud has when he mentioned his mother earlier. Does it have something to do with his mother?

"Just know you can talk to me, son," Sandstorm said in a near whisper. "Whenever you want, just come back to the palace. Everyone misses you,"

Sandstorm looked up and took the cauldron in his talons. He heaved it up onto his shoulder and exited the cave without so much of a glance at Fog. The Cloudborn shook his wings, dispersing the mist that had gathered around him. An awkward silence filled the cave as Cloud continued to stare at his own talons. Fog shifted from one talon to another before focusing his gaze on the wall of the cave.